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Sunday, 13 October 2013

People with disabilties wow capital at Abilympics : Delhi

It is easy to focus on Sarita Dwivedi's infectious smile and confidence and forget for a moment that she has only one limb. Only when she holds a pair of scissors with her left foot and starts cutting paper sheets as straight as anyone would do with a ruler that you realize she is missing both arms and her right leg. Holding a brush soaked in white colour in her mouth and adjusting the sheet with her amputated right leg, it is a marvel to watch her paint. Her mother, Vimla Dwivedi, sitting behind holding a camera said, "My daughter has made me very proud. She can do some things better than people with limbs. I couldn't have asked God for anything else."



Sarita was only four years old when she suffered an electric shock. Both her arms and right leg beneath the knee area had to be amputated. The wound on her head took three surgeries to heal. But she didn't give up. Winning several awards in fine arts, both nationally and internationally, she has outshined many.



It was mesmerizing to see 350 participants with disabilities, representing seven north Indian states and one union territory, create things that even able-bodied people can't imagine, at the fourth regional Abilympics. The event is an international campaign that aims at creating awareness about vocational skills possessed by people with disability.


The three-day event held at Amar Jyoti School had 32 competitions like artificial limb making, computer-based skills, mechanical assembly, tailoring, knitting, jewellery making, wood carving, block printing, dress making, furniture making, and pottery. However, the most keenly contested ones were photography, waste re-use, electronic assembly and testing and embroidery.


The Abilympic meet was partly funded by the ministry of social justice and empowerment and was inaugurated by Union minister Kumari Selja on October 10. "The important aspect of such event is not the event itself, but the mission behind it. Missions such as the Abilympics require the organizers to have passion and commitment to improve the lives of millions of compatriots," she said.



She also mentioned of the recent Supreme Court directive whereby three per cent government jobs will be reserved for persons with disability. "The responsibility of organizations like National Abilympic Association of India and Amar Jyoti will now extend to training enough people to fill up the three per cent quota," she said.



During prize distribution on Saturday, chief minister Sheila Dikshit made a special reference to 'Ganesh Vandana' put up by children, including those with disabilities. "After the forthcoming elections, I would like to organize a show put up by Amar Jyoti children and sponsored by the Delhi government."



Source : TOI , 12th October 2013

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